Spark-plug.



E. L TAYLOR.

s PARK PLUG. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, |917.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

ERNESTL TAYLOR, or Nunnnaiu nnrei'arsnassaonusn'r'rs.

eraan-PLUG.

f speciiicati ers Patent. Patented Sept., 2d, 1918..

Application inea :rune 3o, i917.l serial in. 177,860.

To all-whom it may concern.'

lBe it known that I, l acitizen of the United States, residing at Needham Heights, in the county of Norfolk and -State of vMassachusetts, have invented new and usefull-improvements in Spark- Plugs, lof which the following is a 'specification f 1 This invention relates to improvements in spark plugs and has for its object to provide a durable and eiiicient spark plug capable of producing an exceptionally large and powerful spark. .v l f The invention consists in the combination and arrange-ment of parts wherebythe above object and other objects hereinafter appearing may be attained, as set forth in the following specification andparticularly pointed out' in the claims.

yReferring to the drawings:

Figurel is a vertical longitudinal section through aspark plug embodying onefform of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the lower portion of another form of spark plug embodying' my invention.

Fig.,3 is an underneath plan View of the form of spark plug illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section, trating another embodiment of `my invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the lower part of a spark plug, embodying yet anotherl form embracing the features of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an underneath plan view of the arrangementJ illustrated in Fig. 5.

Likel numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In all of the several forms illustrated a.

hollow, metal body 7 is employed. This hollow body is provided with a hexagonal portion 8 and an externally screw threaded portion 9, the latter adapted to engage corresponding threads in the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine and the hexagonal portion is used to assist in attaching and removing said body.

The body 7 constitutes trode for the spark plug.- core 10, preferably of porcelain,

the ground elec- An insulating is secured in the body 7 against a shoulder 11 and by 4the present instance, however.

any of the well known securing devices. In a bushing 12 is provided` having screw threaded engagement with the interior of the body 7 ERNEST J. TAYLOR,

similar to Fig. 2, illusand ythis bushing encircles a' reduced portion 13 ofthe porcelain V10,

longitudinal vmovement of said bushing within said khollow body. .f

A. collar,14,of resilient'material, is disposedbetweenthe inner end of the porcelainVv 10 and tlie shoulder4 11 and another collarl 15, `of similar material, is arranged between' 'thebushing 12 and the shoulder Aform'ed'by` reducingsaid porcelain at 13. These collars prevent breaking the the bushing from screwed into place and also permit a slight expansion` of`said4 porcelain. A

' An-elec'trode 16 extends' longitudinally through theporcelain 10 from endto end thereby lpreventing l porcelain when said bushing is ,y

thereof and at one'end is located a nut 17. i which'has screw-threaded engagement with said electrode and positively secures the -same to said porcelain. The other end of said electrode is shouldered at 18 to prevent the same from being drawn too far intol said porcelain by said nut.

A nut 19 is secured to the screw threaded end ofthe electrode 16 for the purpose of binding the terminal wire 20 4inelectrical contact with said electrode. The electrode 16 is arranged concentric with the inner end 21 of the -body 7 of the spark plug and this space 22 surrounding the electrode bearing the central terminal to prevent the electric current from Jumping from one electrode to the other. The terminals for the two electrodes of the spark plug, which include the lhollow body 7 andthe rod 16, are preferably of globularl form. l

In Fig. 1 a pair of globular terminals 23 and 24 are secured respectively to the hollow body 7 and the electrode 16 and at a predetermined distance apart, which distance'is such as to permit a spark to jump across the intervening space and this spark ignites the operation also provides friction against the 4 n end forms a ring which providessufiieient stems of said terminals sufficient to prevent their rotating freely in their respective supports but permits said terminals to be rotated, when pressure is applied thereto, to change the relation of the terminals to each other.

The terminals 23 and 24 are arranged so that their convex surfaces will be opposed t0 each other and in consequence thereof the spark which passes from one to the other will be much larger than with the ordinary spark plug; in fact there will be a plurality of sparks passing from one surface to the other, the number thereof varying in proportion to the strength of the current passing through the spark plug and the life of the spark plug will be materially prolonged for the reason that the terminals will not be as readily burnt or corroded as with the ordinary plug. Furthermore, the terminals 23 and 24 may be rotated when one section becomes useless, so as to utilize the entire circumference of both of said terminals.

In Figs. 2 and 3 another manner of securing the globular terminals to the electrode of the spark plug is shown. n this form a globular terminal 30 is secured by a rivet or pin 3l to the hollow7 body 7 of the spark plug, said rivet having a head 32 which pre vents the withdrawal of the terminal 30 therefrom and also provides `suflicient friction to prevent said terminal from rotating without assistance. The rivet 31 is pressed into a recess 33 formed in the annular end 21 ofl said body.

An electrode 34, similar to the electrode 16, is inserted in the porcelain 10 against a shoulder 35 formed thereon. The shouldered end of said electrode is reduced in size at (.36 to form a pivot for globular terminal member 37 placed thereon in operative relation to the terminal member 30. After the member 37 has been placed upon said electrode the end 38 thereof is expanded sufficient to prevent the removal of said member 37 and to provide friction, whereby the same will not rotate without assistance. These terminals may be rotated 0n their respective supports to renew the opposing sections thereof.

In Fig. 4 a pair of globular terminals 39 and 40 are employed, similar to the terminals 30 and 37 of Figs. 2 and 3. The terminal 39 is, however, secured to the body 7 by Ymeans of a screw 41 having screw threaded engagement with the ring portion 21 of said body and at a predetermined distance4 from the aXis of the terminal 40 which is secured, by a screw 42, to the end of an electrode 43 extending centrally through the porcelain 10.y When adjustment of the terminals of this form is desired the screws may be loosened slightly to permit the rotation of said terminals and after the correct adjustment. has been secured said screws Lara@ 1o nal 45 is preferably formed integral with 7,0

.the electrode 46, which is mounted in the porcelain 10 in the same manner as are the electrodes 16, 34v and 43 hereinbefore de scribed. rl`his electrode, however, is permanently fastened to the porcelain and its terminal 45 is thereby prevented from being rotated.

rlhe terminal 44 is provided with a split stem 47 arranged to be inserted in any one of a series of holes 48 disposed at uniform distances from the axis of the electrode 46 about the inner end of the hollow body 7 of the spark plug. By splitting said stem 47 and 49 the portions thereof may be separated slightly and provide friction sufficient to retain the terminal 44 within the holes 48 and when it is desired to present fresh sections of the terminals 44 and 45 to each other the terminal 44 may be drawn from one hole and placed in one of the other holes of the series until all parts of said terminal have been utilized.

With any one of the Various forms set forth clean terminal points vmay be provided for an indefinite period and in consequence thereof the life of the spark plug will be greatly prolonged.

Having thus specifically described my invention what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

1'. A spark plug having, in combination, a hollowbody, a globular terminal adjustably attached.to the end of said hollow body, an insulating core arranged within said hollow body, and a globular terminal mounted in said insulating core at a predetermined transverse distance from the first mentioned terminal.

2. Ay spark plug having, in combination, a metal body, a globular terminal adjustably attached to the end of said metal body, an insulating core arranged within said metal body, and a second globular terminal mounted in said insulating core, the centers of said globular terminals being located in 115 the same transverse plane,

3. A spark plug having, in combination,

a hollow metal body, having a plurality of holes at one end thereof extending longitudinally into said body, a globular termi- 120 nal rotatably attached to said metal body in one of said'holes, an insulating core secured within vsaid hollow metal body, andl a globular terminal secured in said core at an equal distance from each of said holes.

4. A spark plug having, in combination, a hollow metal body constituting a ground for said spark plug, a globular terminal rotatably and detachably mounted in said metal body, an insulating core secured with- 130 'terminals disposed at a predetermined distance apart, one of said terminals being ro tatably adjustable-relatively to the other terminal.

15 6. In a spark plug a pair of globular terminals disposed in transverse alinement and about parallelly arranged axes and independently rotatable.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 29 -my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST J; TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. GooDING, SYDNEY E. TAFT. 

